WOMAN ARCHITECT’S TRIUMPH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3859, 28 February 1928, Page 30

WOMAN ARCHITECT’S TRIUMPH.

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE DESIGN.

BUILDING TO COST £150.677.

(From Our Own Correspondent.; LONDON, January 10. Out of 75 competitors Miss Elizabeth Scott has been chosen unanimously as the architect for tli e new Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon. Most of the 75 competitors were men, and in the six entrants from whom the final choice was made were three from America.

Miss Scott, who is 29 years of age, Is the daughter of a Bournemouth doctor. She finished her training in the Architec. tural Association schools, gaining her diploma three years ago. She comes of a distinguished family of architects, being a great niece of Sir George Gilbert Scott, R.A., and also of George Bodley, R.A., both famous church architects She is a second cousin of Sir Giles Scott, who it will be recalled met with a similar success in his youth by winning the open compei"' n with hig design for Liverpool Cathedral.

During the past three years she has been working as an architect with Mr Louis de Soissons at Welwyn Garden City, Mr Olivcd Hill in London, and Mr Maurice Chesterton at Hampstead. She will now enter into partnership with Mr Chesterton

• I have always loved Shakespeare, and I think I love him a good deal more now that I have been successful in this competition,” Miss Scott observed humorously. “ I am going abroad to studv the latest theatr e architecture, in order that some slight revision to my plan may be made, incorporating the host and newest ideas I hope my success will be an encouragement to other women architects. There is no prejudice against women in architecture, who have as many chances as men to distinguish themselves.” ASSESSOR’S REPORT. The assessors, two Englishmen and an American, state that Miss Scott’s design “ in its general conception, in its acceptance of the site difficulties and their solution, and in its architectural character, shows great ability and power of composition. It has a largeness and simplicity of handling which no other design possesses Its general silhouette and modelling to fit the lines of the river are picturesque, and the character of the design shows consideration for the traditions of the locality ” They add that they do not consider tnat any of the designs completely solved a very difficult pioblem. but further ’evdopments would undoubtedly remove any defect in the design chosen. They hope that while time is being taken in visiting theatres abroad and in bringing plans as nearly as possible to perfection, some of this time can be simultaneously occupied in preparing the foundations on which the new theatre is to be built

The theatre will seat 1000 people, ap proximately 400 in the stalls and boxes, which are uii the level of the stalls and behind them, 300 in the dress circle, and 300 in the gallery. "he assessois have checked the estimate of cost submitted, and are of opinion that the cost as stated —£150,677—is too low, but they do not think that the total cost will exceed the 10 per cent allowance as laid down m the general conditions A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

“ The opportunity for an architect, ’ said Miss Scott, “ was unique in that it was perhaps the first time that a design had been called for a theatre which is intended to be seen in its entirety In London and other towns theatres, with the exception of a narrow facade, ‘are not supposed to be seen. The idea which I embodied in the design was to make everv part of- the theatre distinguishable from the outside Thus in the oerspective drawing it is possible to see exactly where the stage, the auditorium, the foyer, and the staircase to the circle are situated inside.

“ The site is particularly helpful to an architect, and the fact that a river runs at the bottom which is liable to floods lias enabled me to give the building a height and dignity which would otherwise have been impossible. I have also been able to incorporate terraces running down o the river with the idea that the theatre, which will contain a restaurant, may be not only a place of entertainment inside, but a place of recreation outside in its grounds There will be a landing stage, where visitors to the theatre may arrive by boat ”

Miss Scott has provided ample stage space for the varied uses to which the theatre will be put. It will be possible to use the as an Elizabethan, Greek, or modern stage A sound proof, mov able partition, between the stages of the old theatre and the new.’ will enable both these stages to he thrown into one f desired. In this and in the extra space on either side of the stage, provision is made for productions on a much larger scale than would be expected from the size of the auditorium and the ~ener.il planning of the theatre MR G B. SHAW’S TRIBUTE.

The. assessors’ report recommending the adoption of Miss Scott’s plans was adopted at a special private meeting of the governors of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon. Mr A D Flower, chairman of the Executive Committee, presided and moved the adoption nf the report. Tn seconding. Mr Bernard Shaw said: One of the things that designers of theatres should do should be to show that their design is for a theatre A theatre has to have what is practically a tower

in which to ‘ fly ’ scenery, and there must be certain other characteristics. It seems to me that the winning design has done this very cleverly, and, nevertheless, Kept tn Harmony with the town. Some of the d -i ns shown were such that Stratford would not hold them. The architect is m. a very skilful person, and this is a pledge that we have a very adaptable architect.”